In a Test series defined by collapses and comebacks, Karun Nair’s quiet resilience may not make headlines, but it has not gone unnoticed.
On a rain-affected opening day at The Oval, the 33-year-old right-hander marked his return to the Indian Test side with a composed, unbeaten 52, offering India rare middle-order stability after yet another brittle top-order showing. At stumps, India had crawled past 200 for the loss of six wickets, thanks in large part to a 51-run stand between Nair and Washington Sundar, whose own 19* held firm against fading light and a probing England attack.
Nair’s half-century came at a time when questions have lingered over his role in the side. Once a triple-centurion and then quickly forgotten, he has spent much of this tour shuffling between positions, starting at No. 6, moving up to No. 3, and now stabilising at No. 5. Yet through it all, says assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, he has remained a consummate professional.
Karun Nair Never Complained, Says India Coach
“He’s never complained,” Doeschate said after play. “Karun’s been moved around the order, but he’s adapted without fuss. He’s handled the pressure of a recall very well, and he’s given himself the chance now to do something meaningful.”
That chance comes after a string of unconverted starts across the series, scores of 40, 31, 26, and 14 suggest form without permanence. His 52* at The Oval, however, came in testing conditions: overcast skies, a damp pitch, and a spirited England pace unit led by Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue.
Yet Nair, never flashy, always compact, looked in control. His footwork was crisp, his tempo assured. And with India teetering at 153 for 6, his calm presence brought shape to a wobbling innings. It is perhaps a mark of how much Nair’s temperament is valued that Doeschate described batting at six as “a big ask,” noting that the role demands a kind of hybrid skillset not every player can manage.
“He’s versatile,” said the former Dutch international. “And for a team like India, versatility counts. He just gets on with the job.”
India’s innings, though far from commanding, has now been given a platform. With rain forecast for later in the match and England having chosen to bowl first, the visitors will hope Nair can build on his overnight score and lend some spine to what has otherwise been a fragile campaign.
There will be flashier knocks, but this might yet prove one of the most important of the series.
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